Diabetes and Drug Treatments

The endocrine system is composed of body systems that are responsible for producing and secreting important body hormones and chemical substances that are necessary for regulating cell activities and other body organs. However, if these hormones are produced in too much or too little levels, an individual may develop an endocrine disorder due to the hormone imbalance (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur, & Reinhold, 2017). One of these endocrine disorders is diabetes which is a medical condition where the body produces too high levels of glucose or too little blood glucose where affected individuals need to control the blood glucose to a stable level (Arcangelo et al.

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, 2017). There are different types of diabetes which include type 1, type 2, gestational, and juvenile diabetes depending on the amounts of insulin hormone. Diabetes is a condition that affects a large percentage of individuals in the world including children. Poor management of diabetes increases the risk of other body organs being altered which include the heart, the eyes, and kidneys (Arcangelo et al., 2017).

Differences between Type 1, Type 2, Gestational, And Juvenile Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin which is an important hormone required in enabling the body to use sugar by allowing the glucose to enter body cells/tissues which produce energy (Simmons & Michels, 2015).

In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system may destroy the beta cells in the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin preventing glucose from moving into the body cells. The development of this condition may be attributed to genetic factors largely affecting children and adolescents (Simmons & Michels, 2015). Type 1diabetes has no cure with most treatment interventions focusing on managing blood sugar levels using insulin injections, diet, and lifestyle changes to prevent the development of some of the complications associated with this condition (Simmons & Michels, 2015).

Type 2 diabetes is another type of diabetes characterized by the body not producing enough insulin or resisting the effects of insulin affecting the normal glucose levels. This disease largely affects older individuals. Individuals with type 2 diabetes may produce insulin (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015). However, the cells do not use it effectively leading to sugar building up in the blood. One of the major risk factors in the development of this disease is obesity that has also led to some children developing this condition (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015). Gestational diabetes on the other hand is a condition that largely affects pregnant women by affecting how body cells use sugar. This may be attributed to the effects of pregnancy on the body's glucose processing (Alfadhli, 2015).

This condition may also lead to high pressure as well as affect the baby's health. This disease may fail to present any noticeable signs or symptoms. Affected individuals can control this disease through a proper diet and regular exercise (Alfadhli, 2015). This disease may disappear after delivery. The last type of diabetes is juvenile diabetes which is type 1 diabetes affecting children and young adults. This includes individuals below the age of 16. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin that leads to a pile-up of sugar in the blood (Streisand & Monaghan, 2014).

One Type of Drug Used To Treat Type 2 Diabetes Including Proper Preparation, Administration of This Drug, And Dietary Considerations Related To Treatment

One type of drug used to treat type 2 diabetes is metformin which is the first drug to be administered for newly diagnosed patients. This drug lowers glucose production in the liver as well as enhances the body's sensitivity to insulin (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015). Some of the side effects that are associated with this drug include nausea and diarrhea at the start of the mediation process which may go away after the body gets used to the drug. For the drug to work effectively, it is important to follow a special meal plan which is aimed at controlling the condition (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015). This drug should be taken with meals to minimize some of the side effects of the drug on the bowel system. The tablet or solution should be swallowed with much water without crushing or chewing. The dosage will depend on the doctor's recommendations which is based on the age of the patient as well as other factors that may impact the outcome of this drug (Kharroubi & Darwish, 2015).

Short-Term and Long-Term Impact of This Diabetes on Patients Including Effect of Drug Treatment

One of the short-term impacts of type 2 diabetes on patients is hypoglycemia which is low blood glucose level in the body. This may be attributed to the drugs which make the body continuously produce insulin causing the blood glucose level to drop too (Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014). If a patient eats less than the usual amount of food or is more active, the blood glucose level may also drop too much leading to hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include sweating, headache, anxiety, and rapid heartbeat. This condition can be addressed by taking a glucose tablet or natural juice which will raise the blood sugar level (Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014).

A glucose injection of glucagon can also be used to raise the blood glucose level in the body if a patient becomes unconscious. A long-term effect of type 2 diabetes involves damage to the body's blood vessels due to a consistently high blood glucose over a long period of time (Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014). This may affect the kidneys, eyes, and nerves. To prevent such cases, it is important for patients to go for yearly tests to diagnose any eye, kidney, or nerve problems where action can be taken to prevent further damage to these organs and body systems (Kahn, Cooper, & Del Prato, 2014).

References

1. Alfadhli, E. M. (2015). Gestational diabetes mellitus. Saudi medical journal, 36(4), 399–406.
2. Arcangelo, V. P., Peterson, A. M., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, J. A. (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
3. Kahn, S. E., Cooper, M. E., & Del Prato, S. (2014). Pathophysiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes: perspectives on the past, present, and future. Lancet (London, England), 383(9922), 1068–1083.
4. Kharroubi, A. T., & Darwish, H. M. (2015). Diabetes mellitus: The epidemic of the century. World Journal of Diabetes, 6(6), 850–867.
5. Simmons, K. M., & Michels, A. W. (2015). Type 1 diabetes: A predictable disease. World Journal of Diabetes, 6(3), 380–390.
6. Streisand, R., & Monaghan, M. (2014). Young children with type 1 diabetes: challenges, research, and future directions. Current Diabetes Reports, 14(9), 520.